RAW officer attempts suicide at PMO

{image-PMO office_20082008.JPG news.oneindia.in}New Delhi, Aug 20: In a rather shocking news, Nisha Priya Bhatia, 46-year-old woman officer from India's external intelligence arm, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), tried commiting suicide by consuming rat poison in the highly secured South Block on Tuesday, Aug 19 afternoon in the reception area of the Prime Minister's office in protest against sexual harassment.

The woman made allegations against the joint secretary of RAW. The shocking development constrained the cabinet secretariat, under which RAW is administratively placed, to acknowledge that the woman officer had complained of sexual harassment and an inquiry had been conducted but she withdrew her complaint. The probe was completed on May 19, 2008, and her allegations could not be substantiated.

"I have complained that my Joint Secretary offerd me Rs 30,000 to sleep in a hotel with him. When I complained, the Secretary wrote on my complaint, 'I don't wish to be disturbed on such issues," the woman said.

The committee had noted that Bhatia appeared to be in a 'disturbed state of mind' and recommended medical counselling. There had been a number of complaints against the officer, including unauthorized communication, insubordination, misbehaviour and offensive SMSs.

While a police case under Section 309 has been registered against the officer for attempting suicide, a fuller police investigation would reveal the issues involved in the case.

She was taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and was admitted to the medical emergency room. Doctors attending on her said she was out of danger.

The woman alleges that she had been relentlessly targetted after she filed the complaint. "Ever since the complaints, enquiries have been instituted against me, my phones are tapped and I have been going through this for one year," says she.

The police, meanwhile, is waiting for a report from the hospital before filing charges against the woman for attempted suicide.

The woman now plans to move the court as the RAW and the Government have kept her off.